The job kind of found me
From Zimbabwe to the UK and the Channel Islands, Deborah Caldwell has never shied away from a challenge regardless of where it presents itself. Out of a job for the first time in her career – and with the world in the strangle-hold of a pandemic - she decided to return to the southern hemisphere and to one of New Zealand’s leading firms.
The job kind of found me
From Zimbabwe to the UK and the Channel Islands, Deborah Caldwell has never shied away from a challenge regardless of where it presents itself. Out of a job for the first time in her career – and with the world in the strangle-hold of a pandemic - she decided to return to the southern hemisphere and to one of New Zealand’s leading firms.
Deborah Caldwell, Clients & Markets Director, Chapman Tripp (New Zealand)
deborah.caldwell@chapmantripp.com
Last year you moved to New Zealand after two decades in prominent roles in Europe. What prompted the move and why now?
In July 2020, I found myself out of a job for the first time in my career. This was due to a post-merger reorganisation, but it came as a total shock and obviously came at a time when Covid was ramping up. I did the usual reach out to all my contacts and recruitment agents both offshore, back in London as well as in Australia. Borders were shut and there was nothing decent going at a senior level. The effects of the pandemic literally forced me to stop and slow down. I had three months to leave Guernsey, so I took the summer there and put my house in order – literally! I put my belongings into storage and then headed to South Africa to spend time with my Mum. Many job applications and conversations with recruitment agents later, I got a call from the lovely Katie Rosser at Seldon Rosser in January 2021, just before I headed back to London. She said: “How about New Zealand?”. I was, at the time, in negotiations for a role back in Jersey but was intrigued by the role in NZ. It would be a completely new market and new country and a fantastic role, so I said: “Why not – let’s go for it and see where it leads…”. Two virtual interviews later, and a nervous, five-month wait for a visa and a place in MIQ (New Zealand’s mandatory Covid quarantine facilities), and here I am at Chapman Tripp.
New Zealand is clearly a smaller market. Was it difficult finding the right opportunity to match your experience?
The job kind of found me - or that is how it felt. Taking the time out meant I was able to regroup, recover from burn-out and learn to quiet the noise and listen to and trust my instincts. Staying in the UK or offshore would have been an easier option and there would have been less disruption but the Chapman Tripp team and the role itself just felt right so I had no hesitation in accepting the offer as soon as it came through. I am originally from Zimbabwe, so heading back to the Southern hemisphere again also felt right.
What were the biggest challenges presented by the move?
Keeping the faith whilst waiting for a visa and spot in MIQ. The offer, which came through very quickly after interview, was subject to my successfully being granted a visa and a bed in MIQ. Both took several months, during which I studied yoga for the first time in my life and really bedded in with a daily meditation practice which kept me sane and helped me stay the course during the wait. I also needed to make a decision about my beloved cat who was being fostered while I was away and was being cared for by a wonderful person in Jersey. He was 14 the time and it did not seem fair to bring him out to New Zealand, so I made the decision to rehome him permanently with his foster mum – one of the hardest decisions in this process and many tears were shed! Covid also meant travel was tricky so that all took some clever planning. My household belongings only arrived in March 2022 – ten months after I arrived in Auckland.
“What stands out for me is the difference in pressure and stress. I have come into a director role and am part of the senior leadership team in a tier one firm and, whilst we work extremely hard and I often work long hours, there is not the same relentless pressure I found in some of my previous firms.”
“What stands out for me is the difference in pressure and stress. I have come into a director role and am part of the senior leadership team in a tier one firm and, whilst we work extremely hard and I often work long hours, there is not the same relentless pressure I found in some of my previous firms.”
What are the key differences in a senior BD and marketer’s role in professional services in the two countries?
What stands out for me is the difference in pressure and stress. I have come into a director role and am part of the senior leadership team in a tier one firm and, whilst we work extremely hard and I often work long hours, there is not the same relentless pressure I found in some of my previous firms. The culture is much more forgiving and more collegiate and supportive.
And how does the market differ in New Zealand?
Well, it’s so much smaller, which I guess is the biggest difference. That has been a big adjustment for me – I still think on the same scale as I did in the UK when planning projects or initiatives. I constantly have to reassess and to remember the market of which I’m now a part. With the smaller market there are also a lot of close relationships across the law firms and in-house teams, so it feels much friendlier and less cut-throat than other markets in which I’ve worked. Key firms and companies and industry bodies are also able to come together to affect material change in the country when needed which feels very different to how things were in the UK – another benefit of being in a much smaller market.
What do you think professional services in the two countries can learn from one another?
I think the UK could benefit from the more laid-back and trusting approach of the Kiwis – they may get more from their teams if they took the foot off the gas a little. What seems to be lacking here in my view is the plethora of data we always had in the UK. I do miss having access to a full market intelligence team who provided absolutely invaluable data.
What are you currently working on as the priorities for Chapman Tripp and what are the associated challenges?
My current focus is getting back out into the market – NZ was slower to recover from Covid and its borders only reopened relatively recently compared to other parts of the world. Re-engaging with our international referrers is a key priority this year. We, along with many other law firms and businesses, also have a real challenge with regard to recruitment so we are working closely with our people and culture team on our employment brand with a view to attracting and retaining talent.
Where is New Zealand in areas such as ESG, hybrid working and workplace wellbeing?
From what I can see and certainly as it relates to Chapman Tripp, these are a top priority for most New Zealand firms. Chapman Tripp has a robust approach to ESG and wellbeing and from my experience is further ahead than some of the firms I worked with in the UK. We do a huge amount of pro-bono work, formally partner with organisations in the community and are members of organisations such as Net Zero. On workplace wellbeing, we have a platform where staff can access support and information as needed, our working from home and flexible working policies easily rival those of UK firms and, from what I have experienced, there is a huge amount of support for all staff as and when needed. The support we received during a very long three-plus month lockdown in Auckland last year was exceptional, ranging from online firm wide check-ins, seminars from external speakers on how to cope and offering advice and care on how to look after our mental health, care packages sent to people’s homes, financial support for power and broadband bill.
And, finally, what have been the highlights so far?
The people! I work with a fantastic team and feel so much more at home here – may be that southern hemisphere connection coming through. The pace is slower but that feels right and allows a balance and a sense of space I have not felt in a long time.